Job Description

THIS POST COULD BE CONSIDERED AS A SECONDMENT OPPORTUNITY

About the role

The Ashmolean Museum of Art & Archaeology, History of Science Museum, Museum of Natural History and the Pitt Rivers Museum currently have over 8.5 million objects with 7,000m2 of this collection stored in ten different locations across Oxfordshire, with the remainder being stored within the Museums.

The Museums' Collection Storage Strategy is to house the majority of the off-site collections in two purpose-built Collections and Research Centres; the Collections, Teaching and Research Centre (CTRC) in Oxford, and the Collections Storage Facility (CSF), in Swindon. The GLAM Move Project is helping to deliver this storage strategy by preparing the museums' collections and moving them to the new stores. The CTRC is due to open in 2026 and the CSF is due to be ready in 2027.

You will be required to work as part of a team to move museum objects and containers in a safe manner, pack, prepare and freeze collections where necessary and ensure records and locations are kept up to date. The role requires experience of handling and moving museum or historic collections with an understanding of standard requirements for record keeping and data entry.

This is a fixed-term post for 9 months, working full time.

The post will be based primarily in museum and warehouse-style stores across Oxfordshire and requires standing, regularly using stairs in order to access the collections, lifting objects and packed boxes of variable weights and sizes and using manual handling equipment including ladders, pallet trucks and stackers. The ability to drive a van would be an advantage, but this is not an essential part of the role.

About You

You will have experience working in a museum or similar heritage site, ideally within a conservation or collections department, with the ability to handle, pack, and move complex objects and delicate artefacts. A strong understanding of health and safety protocols and risks in a museum storage environment is essential. You will be familiar with catalogue databases, professional documentation standards, and have access to your own vehicle for travel between sites. Capable of managing a busy workload, you will work effectively both independently and as part of a team.

What We Offer

As an employer, we genuinely care about our employees' wellbeing and this is reflected in the range of benefits that we offer including:
An excellent contributory pension scheme 38 days of annual leave A comprehensive range of childcare services Family leave schemes Cycle loan scheme Discounted bus travel and Season Ticket travel loans
More information is available at https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/staff-benefits

Diversity

Our staff and students come from all over the world, and we proudly promote a friendly and inclusive culture. Diversity is positively encouraged, through diverse groups and champions, as well as a number of family-friendly policies, such as the right to apply for flexible working and support for staff returning from periods of extended absence, for example, shared parental leave.

How to apply

You will be required to upload your CV and a supporting evidence form using the attached template as part of your online application. Your supporting evidence form should list each of the essential and desirable selection criteria, as listed in the job description, and explain how you meet each one. CVs alone will not be considered.

We aim to provide a supportive working environment and are happy to discuss training and professional development opportunities. The Chair of this recruitment panel will be Rosie Hughes, Project Manager, who can be contacted with enquiries relating to the role (rosie.hughes@glam.ox.ac.uk). General queries about the recruitment and application process should be directed to the Recruitment team within our Human Resources department (recruitment@glam.ox.ac.uk).

Please discuss secondments with your line manager in the first instance, as you must have their agreement that you can be released for a secondment before you submit an application https://hr.admin.ox.ac.uk/secondments

Only applications received online by 12.00 midday (BST) on Monday 19 May 2025 can be considered. Interviews are expected to take place during the week commencing 27 May 2025.